Type-writer cabinet



(No Model.) 7 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

J. H. HEYWARD. TYPB WRITER GABINET;

No. 558,388. Patented Apr. 14, 1896.

2 SheetsSheet 2.

(No Model.) I

J. H. HEYW-ARD. TYPE WRITER CABINET. No. 558,388. Patented Apr; 14, 1896.

'H u I v 4 15 I I Q g I /////////l///////////////I.V//A f 7 UNITED STATES PATENT ()EEIcE.

JULIUS II. IIEYIVARD, OF GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA.

TYPE-WRITER CABINET.

SPECIFICATION formingpart of Letters Patent No. 558,388, dated April 14, 1896.

A li atio fil d December 17, 1895. Serial No. 572,426. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, JULIUS H. HEYWAED, a citizen of the United States, residing at Greenville, Greenville county, South Carolina, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Type-\Vriter Cabinets, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in type-writer supports or cabinets; and it consists, substantially, in such features of construction, arrangements, and combinations of parts as will hereinafter be more particularly described.

The invention has reference more particularly to that class of type-writer cabinets or supports for which Letters Patent No. 548, 639 were granted me the 29th day of October,1895, and it will be understood that the present invention is to simplify and perfect the operating devices by which the machine-platform is raised or lowered within the drawer for its reception. Some parts of the present embodiment maybe successfully applied to the patented arrangement; but, generally speaking, the operating devices are entirely independent. In the present instance I am enabled to dispense with many elements of the first, and instead of being automatic in character the present devices are operated by hand in a positive manner. The same general objects of the present invention do not dilfer from those of the former invention referred to, except as to simplification and general mode of operation. In the present instance also no part of the writing-bed of the desk whatsoever is cut away, and the several devices employed are exceedingly light and at the same time strong and durable for the purposes for which they are intended.

' The general objects of the present invention will be hereinafter more fully understood, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in perspective of a writing desk or cabinet having my improvements embodied in connection therewith, the said view indicating the platform raised or elevated and the type-writer turned around in position for use by the operator, who may be sitting at the desk in the ordinary manner.

Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the drawer with weight as lying closely against the bottom of the drawer, as well as otherwise designating the compactness when the type-writer has been lowered within the drawer. Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the drawer and the main and supplemental platforms, taken on the line so 00. Fig. 5 is a plan view of the drawer and table, together with the operating devices, showing a modification in the arrangement of the latter.

In carrying my invention into effect I employ a drawer moving in and out of. a compartment or closure at one side of the cabinet or desk, similarly as in the patented device hereinbefore referred to, and the only difference between the two constructions in this particular respect is, that in the present instance the amount of space required for the proper operation of parts is equal in height to about the combined height of three ordinary desk-drawers, instead of two drawers, as in the first device. The platform upon which the type-writer is held or supported is raised and lowered within the drawer, substantially as before; but instead of employing automatic devices for elevating the platform as the drawer is pulled out, I prefer that the said platform be raised and lowered, in the present instance, by hand in a positive manner. In addition to the said platform, which I shall hereinafter designate as the main platform I employ a supplemental platform, which is pivoted to the first -in such manner as to be turned or swung around so as to bring the type-writer or machine into any position desired for the purpose of operating upon it.

Various means could be adopted for raising or lowering the main platform, but as a preferred construction I employ the means substantially such as I have herein illustrated, and which I will now proceed to describe more minutely. Thus the numeral 1 designates the desk or cabinet, and 2 indicates a compartment or closure at one side thereof, the two termed pedestals.

sides of the desk or cabinet being usually Within the closure or compartment 2 isa sliding drawer 3, which works in and out of the closure or compartment in the usual manner and upon suitable guides. (Notshown) Likeintheformerpatented construction referred to, the front piece of this drawer 3 is inclinedboth inwardly and downwardly, which construction, in addition to-furnishing more space for the knees of the operator when the latter is seated in front of the drawer, also permits the main platform, hereinafter mentioned, to describe the movement necessary to enable the same to be elevated to the top of the drawer and carried slightly forward of the front piece of the latter, so as to rest thereon and be supported thereby, all as will herein after more fully appear. The said drawer is provided in its bottom adjacent to the sides thereof with openings 5 and 6, which are only of dimensions sufiicient to permit of the operating-levers to be raised and lowered in the act of raising and lowering the platform. The said platform is indicated by the numeral G,and pivoted to each side thereof at the rearward end is the upper rearward end of a lever 7, which is pivoted at 8 to the side of the drawer, while its other endor extremity is fastened or connected at the inner side or end of a weighted plate 10. Forwardly of the lever 7 referred to is a corresponding lever 11, which is also pivoted to the side of the drawer at 12, the inner end of said lever being pivoted centrally to the platform at 13, while the forward end of said lever is pivoted at the side to the forward end of the said weighted plate 10. In speaking of these two levers and their connections it will be understood that on the opposite side is a corresponding set of levers and connections. The weighted plate 10, it will be observed, lies closely adjacent to the bottom of the drawer 3 when the platform 6 is lowered within the drawer, thus taking up but small space and closing up the devices in compact form. On the other hand, it will be noticed that when the platform has been elevated the weight is lowered beneath the drawer and serves to about counterbalance the weight of the type-writer machine on the platform.

It will be understood that it is simplynecessary to provide the platform 6 with a handpull l5, and it will further be understood that the additional purpose of inclining the front piece of the drawer is to permit of the slight forward movement of the platform, which the latter makes as it is drawn upward. In other words, when the platform is pulled upward it tends to move forward as well, and, as it gradually rises, the forward edge thereof rides upon the inner face of the said inclined front piece of the drawer.

It will be seen that each of the levers has a pivoted central bearing on the sides of the drawer, while one end of each of said levers is connected to the platform and the other end to the counterbalancing-weight. It will be observed still further that when the platform is elevated it is drawn forward to rest upon the upper edge of the drawer, substantially as is shown at 18. In this way the drawer and its supports are made to sustain the greater part of the weight of the typewriter and the operating devices for the platform, taken in conjunction, of course, with the weight 10. By this construction and arrangement also the stability of the support for both the type-writer and the weight and connecting devices between the platform is very materially increased, so that there is no jarring or vibrating action experienced while the type-writer is in use or being operated upon. This latter has been found to be a great disadvantage with that form of cabinet or support comprising a movable or sliding carriage, and a platform or table movable vertically with respect to the carriage, and having devices which must be tightened in place to hold the platform at the height or elevation desired. So, too, with my invention when the platform and machine are both lowered within the drawer they are received onto the bottom of the latter, and in like manner the entire weight of the structure is firmly and steadily supported without reliance being placed, as heretofore, upon mere stops, against which the whole weight is sus-.

tained by abutment of the operative connections.

It will be understood that the operatinglevers herein described may be either straight, curved, or of other desired form or construction, and, as herein shown, they are S-shaped or reversely curved, merely as a preferred form, however, since it will be understood that I do not limit myself thereto in any respect whatsoever.

When the drawer 3 is closed or forced back into the compartment or closure 2, the levers will be caused to turn on their axes in such manner as to both lower the platform within the drawer, as indicated in Fig. 3, while at the same time the weighted plate or counterbalancing device 10 will be drawn up closely adjacent to the under side of the bottom of the drawer. The drawer can then be pushed in, while the machine is therein contained, and the front of the-closure or compartment is completely shut up or closed by any suitable door for the purpose, such as is shown.

\Vhenever it is desired to bring the typewriter into use the door of the closure or compartment is opened orelevated, the drawer 3 is pulled or drawn outward, and thenby sim ply grasping the hand-pull 15 on the table or platform and pulling upwardly the said S- shaped or compound levers on each'side of the platform will be caused to turn on their pivots, thus elevating the platform and carrying it into the position shown in Fig. 2.

The type-writer machine has only been rep resented herein in diagram in order not to conceal the construction and arrangement of other parts, and it is thought the mode of operation will be fully understood.

On top of the main platform or table 6 is held or supported in a manner to turn a supplemental platform 18, which is preferably provided on its under side with a socket 19, in which fits a projection 20 on the upper side of the said main table or platform 6. If desired, a suitable stop device may be employed to prevent the supplemental platform from turning on its axis during the act of raising or lowering the main platform; but for all ordinary purposes I have found that the weight of the type-writer itself produces suflicient friction between the two platforms to prevent any movement of the supplemental platform, except when a slight force is applied to the latter sufiicient to turn it in either direction.

The type-writer is mounted directly upon the upper surface of the upper platform, and from the construction and arrangement described it will be seen with what ease the said supplemental platform may be turned on its pivot, so as to carry the type-writing machine around to any desired position for use. The preferred construction of movable connection between the two platforms is shown in Fig. 4 but it is obvious that I do not limit myself to this particular form, since other forms could be employed and still be within the scope of my invention.

The amount of applied force necessary to elevate the main platform or table is very slight indeed, since as soon as an upward pull is exerted on the platform the counterbalance or weight begins to descend, and thus the latter assists very materially in raising the platform. It will further be seen that when the platform is raised the ends of the levers connected therewith are thrown considerably forward of the central or pivotal point of said levers in one direction, while those ends of the levers attached to the weights are carried past or beyond the said central or pivotal points of the levers in the opposite direction, and thus whenever the platform is operated to be lowered the respective ends of the levers are carried past their central or pivotal points reversely, and thereby the weight of the machine itself assists in the lowering operation. As regards the counterbalancing-weight, it is evident that the same might be made adjustable to suit various requirements of use, and then again the pivotal points of the operating-levers might be changed accordingly as the range of movement of the platform may be desired to be greater or less.

In instances where it is desirable to employ a shorter drawer I resort to the arrangement of levers shown in Fig. 5, wherein it will be seen that the levers on each side of the drawer overlap each other or are drawn closer together and made to move past each other in different planes. The construction will be fully understood without further specific mention.

count of its compactness and simplicity of construction as well as mode of operation and manner of connection. I have found that with this form of type-writer or cabinet-support equal advantages are had and the cost of construction is considerably less, although the former patented construction referred to has many salient advantages, and I do not wish to undervalue the importance of the said former device.

Without limiting myself, therefore, to the precise details of construction and arrangement hereinbefore shown and described, I claim 1. In a type-writer cabinet or support, the combination with a drawer and a table adapted to the drawer, of means for elevating the table forwardly to a position upon the front of the drawer, and for again lowering the table into the drawer, and a counterbalancingweight, substantially as described.

2. In a type-writer cabinet or support, the combination with a drawer and a table adapted to the drawer, of parallel levers for elevating the table forwardly to a position upon the front of the drawer, and for again lowering the table into the drawer, and a counterbalancing-weight, substantially as described.

3. A type-writer cabinet or support comprising a closure or compartment, a drawer working in said compartment, a movable table adapted to the drawer, levers for elevating the table forwardly to a position upon the front of the drawer, and a counterbalancingweight, substantially as described.

4:. A type-writer cabinet or support comprising a closure or compartment for containin g the type-writer, a sliding drawer working in said compartment, a movable table adapted to the drawer, levers on each side of I the drawer and table which are adaptedto elevate the table forwardly to a position to rest upon the front of the drawer, anda counterbalancing-weight, the said levers being fulcrumed on the sides of the drawer and having their forward and rearward ends connected respectively to the weight and the table, substantially as described.

5. A type-writer cabinet or support, comprising in one side thereof a suitable closure or compartment, a movable drawer in said compartment or closure, a rising and falling table adapted to said drawer, a counterbalancing-weight for the type-writer beneath the drawer, and duplicate levers on each side of the drawer, the forward ones of said levers having their forward and rearward ends connected respectively with the forward end of the weight and the central portion of the platname to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JULIUS H. HEYWARD. Witnesses:

SUsIE H. GLovER, H. B. STAISLEY. 

